The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-11-29

1887. a letter was forwarded recalling Mr..
Bush and placing the affairs of the Legation
under Mr. Poor's charge. There WAS 10
change made in his salary. He returned to
Honolulu about the last of August, 1887,
upon the order of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs. At the end of June the Post Office
very properly discontinued paying Mr.. Poor
his half pay, and it is for $500 for the
months of July and August that the claim is
made besides small balance due on account
of loss by exchange, which amount is al
lowed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The question seems to be whether the
claim is a Just one. 1t is urged by the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs that Mr.. Poor should
account for certain moneys paid out by him
! without authority, while in Samoa. Mr.. Poor
was engaged at salary of $500 per month,
and was absent eight months. He has re-
ceived 81, 400, $500 from the Foreign Depart
ment and 5000 from the Post Office. If he is
entitled to any more, it should come from the
Department of Foreign Affairs. This led the
committee into an examination of the Sa-
moan mission. The whole pitful story is
summarized by the statement of the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs. We have expended
over $4,000 and in return therefor have
useless and possibly cumbersome treaty with
the deposed Malietoa. This mission in some
respects might have operated as an eXposi-
! ton to the islands to the south of us of the
J a
much have done some good. In place there
! Of the drunken revels and excuses of the
| legation, hesiiatingly and unwillingly testi-
/ fed TO before the committee, must forever
| stamp this venture of the little Kingdom of
! Hawaii with disgrace. Well might the Chief
Malietoa demonstrate with the Hawaiian En-
bassador for his conduct! Well might the
! people of Samoa look with suspicion upon
! a civilization which could produce such a
result. 1t is but just to MIR. Poor to say
! that this condition of affairs preceded his
assumption of control. 1t is also true that
| while he acted as the cashier of the legation
his payments were made upon the orders of
! his superior officer. and 1t was not made
! clear to your committee that in any case pay
ments certainly unauthorized were made by
Mr. Poor. Upon the whole matter the com
mittee therefore recommend that the amount
claimed by Dir. Poor be allowed and paid to
him from the Foreign Office, and with this
they hope the whole affair may be buried in
oblivion. w. h. CASTLE,
g. H. DOLE,
d. H. HITCHCOCK,
j. .. KAwATNUI,
II. p. BALDWIN.
The report was adopted.
The same member read also the fol-
lowing report on another branch of the
Samoa tiascO:
The Committee on Foreign relations hav-
matters relative to the Samoan Mission, do
hereby respectfully report further:
That 1t appears from evidence introduced
before the committee. that the artist j. d.
Strong was sent to Samoa with the Legation.
but not attached thereto. upon small salary
| of $50 per month and expenses de was
gone about seven months and cost the Gov
eminent over 81 500. For this he was, upon
his statement and letter of directions. to
assist in collecting Samoan specimens, to
| illustrate life and conditions there and paint
similar sketches. The collection in the
Museum makes a very poor show, indicating
either that We had very poor collectors or
that they attended to their own wants first
and the country s afterwards. Judging from
the fine show in j. d. Strong'S studio, it is
possible that the latter may be the correct
theory, but upon this your committee VEN
ture no guess.
1t is a fact, however, that Mr.. Strong has
large collection of drawings, sketches, photo
graphs, etc., collected by him in and about
Samoa, while there on behalf of the Govern
ment, in some of which are valuable and in
structiYe illustrations of Samoan life and
manners, and it seems matter of regret that |
all or any part of this should be lost to the
country. This is particularly the case since
Mr. Strong readily admits his debt to the
Government and our property in certain
proportion of finished work. But he claims
that his financial condition is such that he
further assistance.
Your committee therefore recommend that |
the artistic members of His Majesty's Cabi-
net, or some competent person on behalf of |
the Government, inspect Mr.. Strong's work, |
and if it be found that his collection contains |
valuable and meritorious work, and that he |
requires assistance to finish the same, selec- |
tions be made sufficient to cover the value !
already expended, plus the cost of finishing. |
w. L. CASTLE,
GEO. II. Dole,
d. H. HITCHCOCK,
j. U. kAwAINUI,
II. 2. BALDWIN.
Minister ThuTstOn moved that the |
artistic report just read be referred |
back to the artistic committee to re- |
port what artistic articles are to be |
selected
Noble Smith, artistically second |
the motion.
Referred back to committee
QUESTIONS ASKED MINISTER'S.
Rep. Kamauoha asked the Minister |
of Finance for information on the fol- |
lowing: % Names of persons holding |
bonds in Honolulu, dates of issue and |
dates when payable, ~ amount of
bonds sold at per cent. discount, (3) |
bonds sold at Z per cent. discount, and
a. the expense connected with the |
borrowing S5OO,OOO in Honolulu.
The same member asked the Minis
ter of Interior for information on
claims and payments for land in the
burnt district of Honolulu
Noble Castle asked the Minister of
Finance for explanation of the e702 in
terest in the hands of Matheson & Co.
Minister Brown read a list of Acts
sent to the King for signature and the
dates when sent.
MINISTER'S ANSWER QUESTIONS.
Minister Brown, for the Minister of
Finance, read statement in answer to
the resolution of Rep. Kalaukoa, on
Wednesday, relative to balance al
legged to be due one II. s. Mekapu, of
S1hn Thn Minister read n naner by